Adjustable cartridge case holder



Nov. 17, 1964 w. E. AULABAUGH 3,157,407

ADJUSTABLE CARTRIDGE CASE HOLDER Filed Aug. 31, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l t 2 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM E-AULABAUG'H ATTOE NEYS Nov. 17, 1964 w. E. AULABAUGH ADJUSTABLE CARTRIDGE CASE HOLDER Fild Aug. 51, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. W\LL.\AM E. AULAEMJQM ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,157,407 ADIIE'IABLE CARTRIDGE CASE HQLDER Wiiliam E. Aulahaugh, PEG. Box '72, Los Molinos, Calif. Filed Aug. 31, I962, Ser. No. 220,641 6 Claims. (Cl. 279--36) This invention relates to a holding device for cartridge cases, for use in reloading operations. The frequent use of firearms among sportsmen is attended with considerable expense for ammunition. Since the cartridge case is not destroyed in use, the expense may be materially lessened by repeated're-use of the cases, and this practice has grown to the extent where reloading implements, such as arbor presses are readily available for home use. Aside from the question of expense, these loading operations afford a a range of possible ballistic features, such as varying muzzle velocities, for instance.

However, cartridge cases are found in a variety of sizes, whereas the available loading tools are more-or-less limited as to the cartridge sizes they are capable of handling, and it is, therefore, a principal object of the invention to provide a holding tool with relatively wide versatility as to range of cartridge sizes which it is capable of handling.

Another object is to provide a cartridge case holder which is easily set for handling a given size of cartridge case, and which is adapted for speedy action in clamping and unclamping successive cartridge cases of a given size.

The objects also include the provision of a device which has a minimum number of parts, is simple in structure, easy of assembly, operation and maintenance, easy of manufacture and low in cost.

A further object is to provide a clamping unit for cartridge cases, which is readily adapted for mounting in available presses.

These and other objects, which will be readily apparent, are attained by the present invention, a preferred form of which is described in the following specifications, as illustrated in the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a press, mounting a holding unit constructed according to the invention,

FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of the holding unit shown in FIGURE 1, enlarged,

FIGURE 3 is a bracketed, perspective view, showing the parts of the holder of FIGURE 2, in exploded form,

FIGURE 4 is an elevational view of the holder of FIGURE 2, partly in diametral section.

FIGURE 5' is a top plan view of the holder of F1"- URE 4,

FIGURE 6 is a sectional view, taken substantially on the plane of the line 6-6 of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7, is a view similar to FIGURE 5, showing the clamp of the holder in an adjusted position, to grip a smaller cartridge, and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken on the plane of the line 88 of FIGURE 7.

Referring to the drawings by characters of reference, there is shown, in FIGURE 1, a conventional, reloading press comprising a base Ill, standard 12, head 14, a sleeve 16 slidably mounted on the standard, a toggle linkage I3 to urge the sleeve toward the head, and an operating handle 29 to turn the toggle linkage. A forwardly-extending platform 22 carried by sleeve 16 is bored to accommodate the holding or clamping unit, indicated as a Whole Fatented Nov. I7, l fi l by the numeral 24, consisting of several parts, which are seen to advantage in FIGURE 3. Thus, the holder cornprises a main body, indicated as a whole by the numeral 26, generally tubular, with an axial bore 28, and having a frusto-conical head 3%, an externally-threaded portion 32, of diameter larger than that of base of head 34 and separated from the latter by an undercut, peripheral groove, or neck 34. A short, reduced portion 36, below the threads of section 32, has apair of oppositely-disposed, parallel, flat sections 38, to accommodate a wrench. Below portion 36, the body is still further reduced, in a shank 4i), adapted to pass through the bore in platform 22, and having threads 42 to receive a holding nut 44. Shank 46 should be of a size to fit the minimum'size bore in any press element, such as platform 22, or the latter may be re-bored to take the shank. In the case of oversize bores, an adaptor sleeve may be employed on shank 40, if desired.

The flat top of head 30 is adapted to receive the base disc of cartridge cases, such as 46, 48, shown in broken lines in FIGURES 4, 6 and 8, and in clamping action is provided in a pair of free jaws 50, 52, interengageable with the head 3% and controlled, in a camming action, by a clampingring 54, having internal threads 56, cooperating with threaded portion 32 of the body 26.

The jaws 50, 52 are in the form of segments of a frustoconical shell, conforming generally to a mating relation ship with the outer slant surface of head Ell, and each has an inwardly-turned, bottom flange 58, and an inwardlyturned, upper flange 60, the latter having a tapering outer edge, conforming to the groove, or cannelure, of a cart'ridge case, and sized for entry into the narrowest groove anticipated.

With a View to expediting operations, the jaws are so constructed that the cartridge cases may be introduced in a sidewise motion, in the plane of the flange 6t), and to this end, the' jaws are each provided with a notch'62, adapted to pass the base disc of the cartridge case into position behind flanges 60, which leaves only a small degree of necessary clamping movement of the jaws, in comparison to the case where the cartridge case is introduced axially. In order to properly position the jaws,

eripherally of the head 30, the jaws each havea notch 64, through their lower flanges and walls, receivable over radially-disposed screws or lugs 66, threaded in, or otherwise secured to the neck 34 of the body 26.

laws 50, 52, are retained in the assembly by an inwardly-directed flange 68 on clamping ring 54, which tapers in cross-section to a pointed, inner, peripheral edge, and has a generally upward inclination so as to impart a camming action to jaws 50, 52, to force them radially inwardly, in response to downward movement of ring 54 when rotated in its threaded engagement with section 32.

laws 50, 52 are normally held distended, for introduction of cartridge cases, by means of a pair of springs '70, lodged in blind bores or cavities 72 in head 38, and acting against the inner surfaces of the respective jaws.

In FIGURES 6 and 8, respectively, the holder is shown as adjusted to the respective positions of engagement with cartridge cases 46 and 48, of different diameters, the cases being indicated in broken lines. The conversion from one position to the other involves only about two turns of the ring 54. In each of FIGURES 6 and 8 the p'arts are shown as in position for receiving the base of the cartridge case through slots 62. Thereafter, only a slight turn of the ring 54 is necessary to clamp the cartridge case firmly in place, and retain it positively against withdrawal or rocking.

A cartridge case, held by mechanism described above, is accurately oriented, and secure against wobbling, and ready for a pressing operation to mount the bullet or projectile. The clamping and unclamping involve only a slight turning of the ring 54, which is saving of time and effort, and substantially frees the hands for other operations.

The bore 28 in body 24 may be utilized for insertion of a proper tool to replace the primer cap in the base disc of the cartridge.

While a certain, preferred embodiment has been shown and described, various modifications will be apparent, in the light of this disclosure, and the invention should not, therefore, be deemed as limited, except insofar as shall appear from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A holder for cartridge cases or the like, comprising a main body, of integral construction and circular crosssection, havingta through axial passage, an outwardlyconverging, frusto-conical head on one end, a threaded shank on the other end, an externally-threaded, intermediate section, of diameter greater than the maximum diameter of said head, and separated from said head by an undercut, annular groove, said section having oppositely-disposed, parallel flat sections for receiving a wrench, a pair of lugs carried in the bottom of said groove, on diametrically-opposite sides of said body and terminating short of the periphery of said intermediate section, a pair of jaws in the form of segments of a shell having an inturned flange on its base edge, received in said groove, and an inturned flange of inwardly-converging cross-section at the edge opposite from the base, said jaws each having a slot in its lower edge for reception on the respective, said lugs, to inhibit rotation of said jaws peripherally of said body, said head having oppositelydisposed cavities in its slant surface, a compression spring in each cavity, arranged to contact the inner faces of the respective said lugs, to urge them radially outwardly of said body, and a ring having internal threads engageable with the threads of said intermediate section, and having aninturned flange at one end, of inwardly-converging, tapered cross-section, and slanted generally obliquely with respect to the axis of said body, and said latterflange adapted to contact the slant faces of said jaws, to cam them inwardly, radially of said body, in response to rotation of said ring in its threaded engagement with said intermediate section,

2. A holder for cartridge cases or the like, comprising a main body, of circular cross-section, having a through axial passage, an outwardly-converging, frusto-conical head on one end, a threaded shank on the other end, an

externally-threaded, intermediate section, of diameter a greater than the maximum diameter of said head, and

separated from said head by an annular groove, a pair of lugs carried in'said groove, and terminating short of the periphery of said'intermediate section, a pair of jaws in the form of segments of a shell of generally frustoconical form in substantially mating relationship to the slantsurface of said head, and each having an inturned flange on its base edge, received in said groove, and an inturned flange of inwardly-converging cross-section at the edge opposite from the base, said jaws each having a slot in its lower edge for reception on the respective, said lugs, to inhibit rotation of said jaws peripherally of said body, said head having oppositely-disposed cavities in its slant surface, a compression spring in each cavity, arranged to contact the inner faces of the respective said lugs, to urge them radially outwardly of said body, and a ring having internal threads engageable with the threads of said intermediate sect-ion, and having an inturned flange at one end, of inwardly-converging, tapered cross-section, and slanted generally obliquely With respect to the axis of said body, and said latter flange adapted to contact the slant faces of said jaws, to earn them inwardly, radially of said body, in response to rotation of said ring in its threaded engagement with said intermediate section.

3. A holder for cartridge cases or the like, comprising a main body, of circular cross-section, having a through axial passage, an outwardly-converging, frusto-conical head on one end, a threaded shank on the other end, an externally-threaded, intermediate section, of diameter greater than the maximum diameter of said head, and separated from said head by an annular groove, a pair of lugs carried in said groove, and terminating short of the periphery of said intermediate section, a pair of jaws of a form generally complementary to the slant surface of said head, and each having an inturned flange on its base edge, received in said groove, and an inturned flange at the edge opposite from the base, said jaws each having a slot in its lower edge for reception on the respective, said lugs, to inhibit rotation of said jaws peripherally of said body, said head having oppositely-disposed cavities in its slant surface, a compression spring in each cavity, arranged to contact the inner faces of the respective said lugs, to urge them radially outwardly of said body, and a ring having internal threads engageable with the threads of said intermediate section, and having an inturned flange at one end, of inwardly-converging, tapered cross-section, and slanted generally obliquely with respect to the axis of said body, and said latter flange adapted to contact the slant faces of said jaws, to cam them inwardly, radially of said body, in response to rotation of said ring in its threaded engagement with said intermediate section.

4. A holder for cartridge cases or the like, comprising a main body, of circular cross-section, having a through axial passage, an outwardly-converging, frusto-conical head on one end, a threaded shank on the other end, an externally-threaded, intermediate section, of diameter greater than the maximum diameter of said head, and separated from said head by an annular groove, a pair of lugs carried in said groove, and terminating short of the periphery of said intermediate section, a pair of jaws of a form generally complementary to the slant surface of said head, and each having an inturned flange on its base edge, received in said groove, and an inturned flange at the edgeopposite from the base, said jaws each having a slot in its lower edge for reception on the respective,

said lugs, to inhibit rotation of said jaws peripherally of said body, said head having oppositely-disposed cavities in its slant surface, a compression spring in each cavity, arranged to contact the inner faces of the respective said lugs, to urge them radially outwardly of said body, and a ring having internal threads engageable with the threads of said intermediate section, and having an inturned flange at one end, and said latter flange adapted to contact the slant faces of said jaws, to cam them inwardly, radially of said body, in response to rotation of said ring'in its threaded engagement-with said intermediate section.

5. A holder for cartridge cases or the like, comprising a main body, of tubular structure, an outwardly-converging, frusto-conical head on one end, a threaded shank on the other'end, an externally-threaded, intermediate section, of diameter greater than the maximum diameter of said head, and separated from said head by an annular groove, a pair of lugs carried in said groove, and terminating short of the periphery of said intermediate section, a pair of jaws of a form generally complementary to the slant surface of said head, and each having an inturned flange on its base edge, received in said groove, and an inturned flange at the edge opposite from the base, said jaws each having a slot in its lower edge for reception on the respective said lugs, to inhibit rotation of said jaws peripherally of said body, spring means carried by said body and arranged to contact the inner faces of the respective said lugs, to urge them radially-outwardly of said body, and

a ring having internal threads engageable with the threads of said intermediate section, and having an inturned flange at one end, and said latter flange adapted to contact the slant faces of said jaws, to cam them inwardly, radially of said body, in response to rotation of said ring in its threaded engagement with said intermediate section.

6. A holder for cartridge cases or the like comprising a main body with external threads, an outwardly-converging head, and a neck portion between said body and said head, a plurality of jaws having inturned, outer flanges, and arranged to nest with said head, and having flanges engaged in said neck portion, an internally-threaded ring engaged on said threads and having a flange adapted to contact said jaws to urge them toward said head in a camrning action, spring means on said head urging said jaws away from said head, and detent means arranged to prevent movement of said jaws peripherally of said head.

References @ited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

6. A HOLDER FOR CARTRIDGE CASES OR THE LIKE COMPRISING A MAIN BODY WITH EXTERNAL THREADS, AN OUTWARDLY-CONVERGING HEAD, AND A NECK PORTION BETWEEN SAID BODY AND SAID HEAD, A PLURALITY OF JAWS HAVING INTURNED, OUTER FLANGES, AND ARRANGED TO NEST WITH SAID HEAD, AND HAVING FLANGES ENGAGED IN SAID NECK PORTION, AN INTERNALLY-THREADED RING ENGAGED ON SAID THREADS AND HAVING A FLANGE ADAPTED TO CONTACT SAID JAWS TO URGE THEM TOWARD SAID HEAD IN A 